"Many masks, many selves"

In her essay “Many masks, many selves,” Wendy Doniger argues that one’s identity is made up of a collection of masks and that one chooses which mask to metaphorically “put on” based on the situation at hand. These masks are necessary parts of life and can never really be taken off. While humans naturally tend to search for their true identity or self, beneath all the masks, there is no monolithic core, no singular, “true” identity. However, through self-introspection and by taking off one’s masks and finding out what each one conceals and reveals, people can gain a better understanding of themselves. Thus, people’s search for their true identity will never prove successful, but is still a valuable endeavor in that it teaches them about themselves.